In today’s ever-evolving multi-channel world, marketers are often swept up in the frenzy of the next greatest trend. They’re looking ahead to gain the competitive edge. Sometimes though, the best way to look forward is to look back on a tried-and-true method to reach customers and generate response. That method? Direct mail. You should not […]
In early 2017, IKEA launched a catalog with the cover tagline, “Designed for people, not consumers.” And it continued on the inside cover: “Everything we do is driven by the needs and dreams of real people. … We make products and solutions with someone in mind.” Their message resonated with me. During the almost 10 […]
Ecommerce has been changing at digital speed since it showed up in the marketing world 25 years ago. Print marketing has taken 100 years to evolve from the early days of newspaper to magazines, then to direct mail and finally catalogs. Catalog circulation is the sturdy bedrock art of targeting what records to mail, when […]
(No, not you. Your catalog!) If you haven’t heard, the United States Postal Service has increased the piece rate weight limit for catalog mailings. As of January 22, 2017, your catalog can qualify for the Flat-Size Marketing Mail postal piece rate if it weighs 4.0 ounces or less (up from the long-reigning 3.3 ounces). With […]
Forget going to the gym more often or eating better or any other resolutions you’ll abandon by mid-February. I’ve made a list of New Year’s resolutions for 2017 … and they’re all about catalogs. Ignore any proclamations of catalogs going away. They’re still here. They’re still relevant. And they can be better than ever. Because […]
Human beings have an attention span of 8 seconds. We don’t read anymore. We scan. Brands usually say too much. Cut your copy. Make your point. Quickly. Make things more visual. Get rid of anything unnecessary. Edit again. My 8 seconds are up. You get my point. The end. Having trouble trimming your message? […]
I’m asked to critique catalogs on a regular basis. Assessing catalog design is important, and I’m of the belief that we can “always do better.” However, many of my comments point out small deficiencies that at the end of the day do not make a big difference in overall results. Collectively they can make a […]
Catalog heroes rise up against democratic oppression One voice, one vote? Equality for all? Democratic rule? No more! Not here. Not now. Not ever. Before you report me to Homeland Security or flood the comments decrying my fascist propaganda, let me explain. I’m not proposing a violent overthrow of the government. No, my revolutionary screed […]
Understanding what goes into the adjustment of postage rates is like watching a computer wizard remotely dial into your computer to fix something. Until we go through the initial stage of total confusion, slog our way through understanding the basic things that make the machine run properly, and finally narrow it down to the few […]
